The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed allegations that it is being used to persecute opposition politicians, insisting that its operations remain guided by law and its statutory mandate to fight corruption.
In a statement released on its official X handle on Monday, the commission described accusations of “weaponisation of the EFCC” and “erosion of its independence” as a misrepresentation of its role.
“The Commission’s weapon is its Establishment Act which provides the ground norm of its activities,” the EFCC said, stressing that suspects from both ruling and opposition parties, as well as non-partisan actors, are investigated and prosecuted equally.
The agency noted that arrests and prosecutions in the past two years under its current leadership demonstrate that members of both the ruling party and opposition have faced investigation.
“A checklist of arrests and prosecution by the Commission in the last two years shows that strong members of the ruling party such as former governors, ministers and others not publicly known are sharing tables with a motley number of opposition politicians as well,” the statement added.
Rejecting claims of selective targeting, the EFCC argued that accountability should not be politicised.
“Where is persecution in asking a suspect of corrupt practice to account for his sleaze? Stealing, embezzlement of public funds, contract fraud, money laundering and other corrupt practices are not excusable on political grounds,” it stated.
The commission emphasised that corruption “has no gender, religion, tribe, political party or other extraneous alignment,” warning that “selective outrage cannot be a defence against criminal investigation for graft.”
It further cautioned that attempts to intimidate or blackmail the agency into abandoning investigations posed a greater threat to democracy than its lawful actions.
“What threatens democracy is not the EFCC doing its job, but the attempt to intimidate or blackmail it into abandoning investigation allegations against corrupt opposition politicians,” the statement read.
The EFCC maintained that it would not succumb to pressure or conduct inconclusive investigations merely to appear non-selective.
“We enjoin all well-meaning, reform-minded and patriotic Nigerians to join hands with the EFCC in this dignity-restoring mandate,” it concluded.
The statement comes amid political debates over alleged pressure on opposition figures. The Presidency had earlier rejected similar claims, with spokesperson Bayo Onanuga affirming that President Bola Tinubu would not deploy the EFCC to harass rivals, stressing that the agency operates independently within its statutory mandate.
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